Crispy Fried Tofu

Instructions

1. Press your block of tofu for 20-30 minutes. Then cut the pressed tofu into pieces that are a little smaller than you would like the finished chunks to be (I usually cut 3/4” cubes).

2. In a large bowl, mix the coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce) and rice wine. Then place the tofu cubes in the bowl and marinate with the soy sauce and rice wine marinade for 15-30 minutes. I like to put everything in a container with a lid so I can occasionally shake it a little to distribute the tofu marinade.

3. While the tofu is marinating, combine 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, and white pepper in a small mixing bowl. Add water and mix well. (If you want a thinner coating/thinner batter, add additional water; for a thicker batter, add more flour). Place 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a separate bowl.

4. Fill a large skillet or saute pan with about 1 1/2” of vegetable oil for frying. Heat the oil over medium heat. When it’s ready, the oil should start to ripple, and water should splatter out if dropped in the oil. If the water splatters violently, the oil is too hot.

5. Place several pieces of marinated tofu in the bowl with the flour and toss until coated. Dredge each piece of tofu through the batter, making sure it’s evenly coated, then drop it back in the flour to coat the outside of the batter. I use one set of forks to lift the tofu from the batter and another set to lift it from the flour. Add more flour to the flour bowl, as needed.

6. Drop the coated tofu pieces in a single layer in the hot oil and cook, turning as needed. Using tongs or a metal spatula, remove the tofu from the oil when the pieces are golden in color, about 3-6 minutes. Place the finished tofu on paper towels to drain the oil. Repeat with additional pieces of tofu. Serve immediately with your choice of sauce, vegetables, and rice. Enjoy!

This tofu is crunchiest when it's fresh (although leftovers still taste delicious, they'll be a little softer). Because of that, you may wish to make a smaller batch that you and your family can eat in one sitting.

If you don't have a tofu press, you can just wrap up the tofu block in a kitchen towel and leave some moderate weights on top of it for 20 minutes or so. I usually use my large wooden cutting board with a few cookbooks on top.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat on a baking sheet in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.